Machine for cleaning water-tubes of boilers



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Patented May 18, 1897.

3| l l lila N wm QQ .wh W kw ,y

"me Nonms Eriks co.. PHomL|rHo.. WASHINGTON, u. c:A

(No Model.)

S. B. ROBESON 8v W. T.:BOHNE. MACHINE EOE GLEANING WATER TUBES 0E BOILEEs.-

Wl TNESS:

(No Model.) l I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

S. B. ROBBSON & W. 8T. BOHNE. MACHINE EOE CLEANING WATER TUBES 0E EoILEEs.

No. 582,958. Patentd May 18, 1897.

Afl

` 17j/@8.33 .3/ az l UNirnn Srnrns PATENT Ormea.

SAMUEL BURDETrl ROBESON AND VALTER TIIAYRE BOIINE, OF NEIV ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

MACHINE FOR CLEANING WATER-TUBES OF BOILERS.

SPECFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 582,953, dated May 18, 1897.

Application led Tune 9, 1896| Serial No. 594,882- (No model To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, SAMUEL BURDET-r RoBEsoN and WALTERTHAYRE BoHNE, citizens of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Oleaning l/Vater-Tubes of Boilers and other Tubes; and We do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to improvements in apparatus for cleaning the tubes of steamboilers and other apparatus or machinery;`

and it has for one of its objects to provide such an apparatus in which the power for actuating the cleaning device is applied direct thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for the purpose stated embodying such a construction that it may be readily adjusted and adj ustably fixed, so as to permit of the cleaning device entering and being actuated in the several tubes or other apparatus.

Still another object is to provide an apparatus for the purpose stated embodying means whereby the cleaning device may be readily inserted in and withdrawn from the tubes or otherapparatus and whereby it may be adj usted and ad justably fixed to clean the tubes in sections throughout the length thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention Will be fully understood from the following description and claims when taken in conjunction With the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of the cleaning device of our apparatus with a portion of the rod broken away. Fi g. 2 is a vertical sectional view illustrating our improved apparatus and a portion of a steam-boiler with the cleaning device in its operative position in one of the boiler-tubes. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View illustrating the mannerin which the toothed plates or bars of the cleaning device operate to remove the scale from the water-tubes of a boiler or from other tubes. Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section taken through one ofthe water-tubes of a boiler with the cleaning device in position therein to illustrate the relative position of the several toothed plates or bars of the cleaning device. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section taken in the plane indicated by the line x fr of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a similar section taken in the plane indicated by the line w w of Fig. l. Fig. S is a detail section, partly in elevation, showing a modified construction of cleaning device anda coupling for connecting the cleaning device and the threaded rod. Fig. 9 is a section taken in the plane indicated by the line y y of Fig. 8, and Fig. l0 is a detail perspective view of one of the screws or bolts.

Referring by numerals to said drawings, l indicates two brackets which constitute the main frame of our improved apparatus and are designed to be fastened upon the front of the boiler or apparatus to be cleaned, one at each side of the series of water-tubes, in a manner presently to be described. These brackets 1 have their rear edges or sides pitched or inclined, as shown, and upon such inclined edges is arranged the vertically-movable open frame 2, which is preferably of a rectangular form and is designed to be adjusted and adj ustably fixed on the brackets l in a manner also hereinafter to be described.

3 indicates the piston-cylinder of a steamengine, which may in general be of the ordinary construction and have the usual appurtenances--viz., a valve-chest 3, a valve 3b, and a rod or other means for transmitting motion to the valve. Said cylinder 3 contains a piston 3C, and this piston is fixed on a hollow rod et, which ext-ends through stuffingboxes 4 at the ends of the cylinder, and is provided at its opposite ends with screwtapped apertures 4b, and is also preferably provided with an arm 4C, attached to the valve rod or stem, as shown. In this hollow pistonrod et is arranged a threaded rod 5, which forms a portion of the rod of the cleaning device of our improved apparatus. ,This rod 5 is connected at its forward end, preferably in a swiveled manner, to the rear end of the rod 7, which for the' sake of strength and durability is preferably formed by a plurality of suitably-connected longitudinal sections or strips, as shown. This latter rod 7 is pref- IOO erably of an oetagonal form in cross-section, as shown, and it carries the serrated or toothed and transversely-curved plates or bars 9, which have for their function to scrape or eut the scale out of the water-tubes, as better shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The said plates or bars 9 are preferably toothed in the manner shown, although they may be proi vided with teeth ot other shape, it desired, and they are lixedly connected at their opposite ends to spring or resilient strips 9, which are carried laterally and rearwardly from their point of connection to the plates t), and are in turn connected by bolts 9 to the rod 7, and are preferably coun tersunk in said rod, as shown. In virtue of this manner of connecting the scraping-plates 9 with the rod 7 it will be seen that the cleaning device may be readily inserted in a tube, and that when within the tube they will be yieldingly pressed against the inside of the same, so as to eut and scrape the scale from the same when the cleaning device is reciprocated. The yielding connection of the scraping-plate i) also permits them to give when they encounter anything that would tend to break them, and thus reduces the liability of breakage to a mi n i m u 1n The plates t) may be arranged upon the rod 7 in any suitable manner. \Ve prefer, however, to arrange them in one or more circular series, as shown, and when more than one series is employed we prefer to arrange the plates of one series in alinement with the spaces between the plates of the next series, so as to thoroughly scrape the entire inner surface of a water or other tube. \Ve also prefer to have the resilient or spring strips On decreased in length toward the forward end of the rod -that is to say, to have the springstrips of the forward series of plates t) of a less length than those of the second series, and so on-so as to enable the rear plates to remove the scale left by the preceding ones.

The threaded rod 5 of the cleaning device is provided with a longitudinal groove 5, which receives a feather or spline of a handwheel (5, through which the rod 5 extends, as shown. This wheel G is journaled in an arm (5, connected to the cylinder I), and when it is turned in one direction it will be seen that the rod 5, and consequently the cleaning deviee,is moved forwardly, and when it is turned in the opposite direction the rod 5 and the cleaning device will be moved rearwardly. In this manner it will be seen that the cleaning device maybe readily insert-ed or withdrawn from a wateror other tube and also that the cleaning device may be moved into the tubes to a greater or less extent, so as to clear the same ot scale throughout their length.

The piston-cylinder il is arranged and secured in the vertically-1novable frame i), as better shown in Fig. 2, and it may be moved vertically with said frame 2 and may also be moved horizontally in said frame, so as to permit of the cleaning device being inserted in the several tubes of a boiler or other apparatus. This latter horizontal movement of the cylinder I is preferably eiected through the medium of the turn-screw 10,-which is iournaled in the end bars of the frame 2 and extends through the threaded aperture 1l in the cylinder-casting 3, as shown, so that when turned in one direction it will move the cylinder toward the lett and when turned in the opposite direction will move the cylinder toward the right.

rlhe arrangement of the apparatus with respect to the water-tubes of a boiler is shown in Fig. 2, in which the cleaning device is illustrated as inserted in one of the water-tubes. Now it will be seen that when steam is permitted to pass from a source of supply (not illustrated) through the rubber tube 3" to the valve-chest 3 the piston 3C will be reciprocatcd in its cylinder and the cleaning device will be reciproeated in the water-tube to remove the scale'therefrom. It will also be seen that the power is applied direct to the cleaning device and that therefore it will be reciprocated with great force, which will e11- able it to quickly cut, scrape, or saw the scale ltrom the water-tube. lVhen the forward portion of a tube is cleared of scale, the engine is stopped and the cleaning device is moved tartherinto the tube,when the engine is again started, and so on until the tube is cleared of scale throughout its length.

Then the cleaning of a tube is completed, the cleaning device is withdrawn from said tube by rotating tle wheel V, and the frame 2 is adjusted and adjustably tixed on the brackets l, and the cylinder 3 is adjusted in the frame 2 until the cleaning device rests in alinement with another tube of the boiler 0r other apparatus, when the operation before described is repeated.

In order to permit of the brackets l. being readily connected to the trontof a boiler, we provide said brackets with apertured lugs l2. These lugs l2, when the doors of aboiler are removed, are interposed between the apertured hinge-lugs (not illustrated) of theboiler and connected thereto by pintles or bolts. Said brackets may, however, be connected to the front of a boiler or to any other apparatus in any suitable manner.

The end bars l5 of the trame are connected to the horizontal bars 1G thereof by screws, bolts, or other suitable means, and said end bars l5 are also connected with the oblique bars of the brackets l by bolts 10, which take through lugs 17 of the bars 15 and through threaded apertures in straps 1S, arranged at the inner sides ofthe oblique bars of the brackets l., as better shown in Figs. 5 and t5 of the drawings. By tightening the screws 19 the frame 2 maybe adjustably fixed at various elevations on the brackets l, and when said screws are loosened the frame 2 may be raised or lowered to the position desired and may then be again adjustably fixed ICO IIO

IZO

by tightening said screws. The raising and lowering of the frame 2 may be effected with a block and tackle (not illustrated) or by other suitable means.

The horizontal adjustment of the pistoncylinder and its appurtenances in the frame 2 may be readily accomplished by rotating the screw 10, the eXible connection 3f, between said cylinder and the source of steam-supply, serving to permit of such adjustment.

In Figs. 8 and 9 we have shown a desirable construction of cleaning device and a desirable swivel-couplin g for connecting the rod 7 e of said cleaning device with the threaded rod 5e.

The rod 7c vof the cleaning device has an end section 20, provided with peripheral ribs 21, and also provided with a threaded inner end 22 and sections 23 for the connection of the resilient strips 9il of the scraping-plates 9. The section 23 contiguous to the end section 2O is provided with a socket to receive the threaded end 22 of said section 20, and the several sections 23 are connected by threaded rods 24, which take into threaded sockets 25 in the contiguous ends thereof, as shown. Any number of the sections 23 may be employed,and the cleaning device may be readily increased in length by adding sections 23 and may be as readily diminished in length by disconnecting some of the said sections.

The resilient orspring strips 9a of the scraping-plates 9 are connected to the rod-sections 23 by screws 26, and these screws occupy sockets '27, which communicate at their inner ends with the sockets 25. The screws 26 have threads at their inner ends designed to be engaged by the threaded bolts 24, and consequently it will be seen that when the parts are in the position shown inFig. 8 the screws 26 will be locked against casual turning and a casual disconnection of the resilient strips of the scraping-plates from the rod-sections will be effectually prevented.

The end of the threaded vrod 5'e is provided with peripheral ribs 30 and is connected to the end section 2O of the rod 7e by the coupling 3l. This coupling 3l comprises two sections 32, which have interior annular grooves 33 to receive the collar fianges or ribs 2l. 30 of the rods 7'e 5e, and also have the reduced portions 34 at their ends, as shown. In these reduced portions 34 are formed slots which when the sections 32 are together on the rods 5e 7 c form L or bayonet slots 35. These slots 35 are designed to receive the studs 36 of the rings 37, which serve to holdthe coupling-sections 32 together, and when the studs 3G are in the position shown at the right of Fig. 8 it will be seen that the said rings 37 will be secured against casual displacement from the reduced portions of the coupling sections.

The coupling described is strong and durable, and while it may be easily and quickly effected it is not liable to become casually disconnected in practice.

Our improved apparatus is highly efficient for cleaning the` water-tubes of boilers and other apparatus, and it may also be used to advantage for cleaning all other tubes and pipes as well as for scraping other devices.

Vhen desirable, the cleaning device of our improvements may be connected with the piston of an engine other than a steam-engine, and we therefore do not desire to be understood as confining ourselves to the use of a steam-engine.

Having described our invention, what we claim is- 1. In an apparatus for cleaning tubes, the combination of the piston-cylinder of an engine, a piston arranged therein and having a central hollow rod provided with interior threads at its opposite ends and extending through the.opposite heads of the cylinder, a threaded rod extending through the hollow piston-rod and engaging the interior threads thereof and having a longitudinal groove, a wheel receiving the threaded rod and having a feather taking into the groove thereof and a cleaning device connected with the threaded rod, substantially as specified.

2. In an apparatus for cleaning tubes, the combination of a main frame, a vertically-adjustable frame arranged on the main frame, the piston-.cylinder of an engine carried by Athe vertically-ad j ustable frame and having a threaded aperture a rotary screw journaled in the vertically-movable frame and extending through the threaded aperture of the piston-cylinder whereby when the screw is rotated the piston-cylinder will be moved horizontally in the vertically-adjustable frame, a piston arranged in the cylinder and havinga threaded aperture and a threaded rod extending through the threaded aperture of the piston, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an apparatus for cleaning tubes, the combination ,of a main frame, a vertically-adjustable frame arranged on the main frame, the piston-cylinder of ari-engine carried by the vertically-adjustable frame and having a threaded aperture, a rotary screw journaled in the vertically-movable frame and extending through the threaded aperture of the piston-cylinder whereby when the screw is rotated the piston-cylinder will be moved horizontally in the vertically-adjustable frame, a valve-chest carried by and connected with the piston-cylinder, a valve in said chest having a stern extending through the same, a piston arrangedin the cylinder and having means for moving the valve-stem and also having a threaded aperture, a threaded rod extending through the threaded aperture of the piston and having a longitudinal groove, an arm connected with the piston cylinder and a hand-wheel journaled in said arm and having an aperture receiving the threaded rod and a spline entering the groove thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an apparatus for cleaning tubes, the combination of the piston-cylinder of an en- IOC) IIO

gine, a valve-chest carried by and connected with the piston-cylinder, a valve in said chest having a stem extending through one end thereof, a piston arranged in the cylinder and having the hollow rod extending through opposite heads of the cylinder and provided with interior threads, a threaded rod extending through and engaging the threads of the hollow rod and means on said hollow rod for moving the Valve-stein, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an apparatus for cleaning tubes, the combination of the main frame comprising brackets adapted to be fastened upon the front of a boiler and having their rear bars `pitched or inclined, a vertically-movable frame arranged on said pitched or inclined bars of the brackets, clips adjustably connecting said frame and the inclined bars so as to permit of said frame being raised or lowered and adj ustablyiixed on the brackets of the main frame, the piston-cylinder of an engine arranged in the vertically-movable frame, means for adjusting the piston-cylinder horizontally in the movable frame, and adjustably fixing the same, and a piston arranged in said cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

G. In an apparatus for cleaning tubes, the combination of a main frame, the piston-cylinder of an engine adj ustable vertically and horizontally on the main frame, a piston arranged in said cylinder, and a cleaning device adjustably connected with the piston, whereby it may be moved toward or from the same, substantially as specified.

7. In an apparatus for cleaning tubes, the combination of a rod, a plate having teeth or serrations on its outer side, and resilient strips connected at one end to the rod and at their opposite ends to the plate at the opposite ends thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

S. In an apparatus for cleaning tubes, the combination of a rod, a plate having teeth on its outer side, and the resilient strips connected at one end to the rod and extending laterally and forwardly from the same and connected at their opposite ends to opposite ends of the plate or bar, substantially as specified.

9. In an apparatus for cleaning tubes, the combination of a rod, a circular series of plates surrounding the rod and having teeth on their outer sides, springs connected at one end to the rod and at their opposite ends to the plates, a second series of plates at the opposite ends thereof surrounding the rod in rear of the first-named series and having teeth on their outer sides, and springs connected at one end to the rod and at their opposite ends to the plates at the opposite ends thereof, the said springs being of a greater length than those of the iirstnamed series of plates, substantially as specified.

lO. In an apparatus for cleaning tubes, the combination of a plurality of rod-sections having threaded sockets in their ends, threaded rods arranged between said sections and inserted in the sockets thereof so as to connect the sections, scraping-plates, and resilient strips connected at one end to the rod-sections and at their opposite ends to the plates, substantially as specified.

ll. In an apparatus for cleaning tubes, the combination of a plurality of rod-sections having threaded sockets in their ends, and also having laterally-disposed sockets communieating with the end sockets, scraping-plates, strips connected to the scraping plates, threaded bolts extending through said strips and the laterally-disposed sockets of the rodsections and having threads at their inner ends, and the threaded rods arranged in the end sockets of the rod-sections to connectsaid sections and engaging the threaded inner ends of the laterally-disposed bolts, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

l2. In an apparatus for cleaning tubes, the combination of a cleaning device having a rod provided with a collar-flange, a second rod having a collar-flange, and a coupling comprising sections having interior grooves receiving the collar-flanges of the rods and also having reduced portions at their ends having slots forming bayonet-slots, and rings mounted on said reduced portions of the sections and having studs engaging the bayonetslots of said sections, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we aiiix our signa tures in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL BURDETT ROBESON. TALTER TIIAYRE BONNE.

Vitnesses II. GINDER, F. J. HERMAN.

IOO 

